La Charité-sur-Loire is France Profound
La Charité-sur-Loire has a population of just over 6500 people. It is large enough to offer shops and facilities to the lovers of things French and yet is small enough to have maintained its medieval charm. La Charité-sur-Loire offers a full range of services from exquisite boulangeries (bakeries), wine shops and a weekly market (Saturday mornings in the main square) and modern full-scale supermarkets. There is also a range of restaurants in the heart of this medieval village from pubs, to pizzerias, to fabulous upscale restaurants.
There are many music festivals held throughout the year. The Cathedral, salle de fête, market place and other venues are all within two blocks of our gîtes. If you enjoy music you will indeed be entertained by the many classical, jazz and modern musicians who play in these venues.
La Charité-sur-Loire is one of several Villes des Livres (Cities of Books) in France. There are many antiquarian bookstores in the village which provide an excellent opportunity to purchase ancient documents, maps and books on the town, the region, the country or the topic of your choice.
The temperature of the Nivernais around La Charité-sur-Loire is very moderate. The town is located 'south of the rain and north of the heat' in one of the few remaining profoundly French areas of the country. The region abounds in wheat, canola and sunflower fields. Forests and rolling vineyards extend for miles. There are many public walks and bicycle paths which take you through the fields and forests where wild flowers such as lilies of the valley and carpets of bluebells are abundant.
La Charité-sur-Loire History
La Charité-sur-Loire was founded about the seventh century and was originally named Seyr (City of Light). It is located on one of the
Paths of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle taken by pilgrims from various points in Europe to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. The generosity of the Cluny monks to the pilgrims following the Compostelle Route caused Seyr to be renamed La Charité-sur- Loire.
